Rue Maarad
Encyclopedia
Rue Maarad is a main street in the Beirut Central District
, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of Lebanon
". Severely damaged in the Lebanese Civil War
, the street underwent a thorough reconstruction and development plan by the Lebanese real estate giant Solidere
. The buildings along and around the street were preserved and restored emphasizing on their original character, and access to the street was limited only to pedestrian movement.
The street and its immediate area occupy the site of the old fortified medieval town, connecting the Ottoman
Serail Hill
and the Foch-Allenby Quarter. The area displays an early 20th-century architecture combining classical and Islamic Revivalism
with Art Deco
and Art Nouveau
, thus mirroring Lebanon
's political status quo
as it moved from Ottoman rule to the French Mandate
era.
The street begins at Riad as-Solh
square and terminates at "Nejme Square", the site of the Lebanese Parliament. The Nejme-Maarad area is particularly notable for its stone elevations, radial streets, and arcaded alleys. Today, the area is vibrant with shops, banks, and business and wide array of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs.
"I went out to Rue Maarad, thinking I would go as far as Rue Weygand
and from there would go home to plant the shoots before they could wilt."
Beirut Central District
The Beirut Central District or Centre Ville is the name given to Beirut’s historical and geographical core, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of the country.” At the heart of Lebanon’s capital, Beirut Central District is an area thousands of years old, traditionally a...
, the “vibrant financial, commercial, and administrative hub of Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
". Severely damaged in the Lebanese Civil War
Lebanese Civil War
The Lebanese Civil War was a multifaceted civil war in Lebanon. The war lasted from 1975 to 1990 and resulted in an estimated 150,000 to 230,000 civilian fatalities. Another one million people were wounded, and today approximately 350,000 people remain displaced. There was also a mass exodus of...
, the street underwent a thorough reconstruction and development plan by the Lebanese real estate giant Solidere
Solidere
Solidere s.a.l. is a Lebanese joint-stock company in charge of planning and redeveloping Beirut Central District following the conclusion, in 1990, of the country’s devastating civil war...
. The buildings along and around the street were preserved and restored emphasizing on their original character, and access to the street was limited only to pedestrian movement.
The street and its immediate area occupy the site of the old fortified medieval town, connecting the Ottoman
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
Serail Hill
Grand Serail
The Grand Serail ; also known as the Government Palace) is the headquarters of the Prime Minister of Lebanon. It is situated atop a hill in downtown Beirut a few blocks away from the Lebanese Parliament....
and the Foch-Allenby Quarter. The area displays an early 20th-century architecture combining classical and Islamic Revivalism
Islamic architecture
Islamic architecture encompasses a wide range of both secular and religious styles from the foundation of Islam to the present day, influencing the design and construction of buildings and structures in Islamic culture....
with Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
and Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
, thus mirroring Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
's political status quo
Status quo
Statu quo, a commonly used form of the original Latin "statu quo" – literally "the state in which" – is a Latin term meaning the current or existing state of affairs. To maintain the status quo is to keep the things the way they presently are...
as it moved from Ottoman rule to the French Mandate
French Mandate of Lebanon
The state of Greater Lebanon, the predecessor of modern Lebanon, was created in 1920 as part of the French scheme of dividing the French Mandate of Syria into six states....
era.
The street begins at Riad as-Solh
Riad as-Solh
Riad as-Solh was the first Prime Minister of Lebanon , after the country's independence. Like all of his successors as prime minister of Lebanon, he was a Sunni Muslim. He later served as prime minister of Lebanon again from December 14, 1946 to February 14, 1951...
square and terminates at "Nejme Square", the site of the Lebanese Parliament. The Nejme-Maarad area is particularly notable for its stone elevations, radial streets, and arcaded alleys. Today, the area is vibrant with shops, banks, and business and wide array of restaurants, cafes, bars and clubs.
In Fiction
- The Tiller of Waters by Hoda Barakat
"I went out to Rue Maarad, thinking I would go as far as Rue Weygand
Rue Weygand
Rue Weygand is a street in Beirut's Central Business District. Originally, the street was named Rue Nouvelle as it was a new thoroughfare constructed as part of a modernization plan in 1915...
and from there would go home to plant the shoots before they could wilt."